In What Cultures are Dark Skin Considered Beautiful?
I'm light brown and happy with my skin tone, but if I had to choose to be an other color, it would definitely be that dark chocolate complexion. I think that skin like Lauryn Hill or Gabrielle Union is just SO gorgeous. And I even find the real dark skin like Alek Wek's attractive, but I also feel like you have to have strong facial structure to be able to pull it off.
I guess it confuses me how in so many cultures, light is considered right, and dark is thought of as ugly. Why? In Africa, the Middle East, India, East Asia, South America and the Caribbean, so many women strive for the lighter skin tone, and would even go as far as to bleach themselves to become a few shades lighter. Even in my own family, people feel this way.
Yes, it's true that many people of European descent tan to become darker, but it's not even to become real dark; it's just to avoid being pale, and get a bit of color. And so many people of color in America wish they were lighter, and some even act on that! I watched Tyra Show the other day, and it was about these beautiful dark women who bleach their skin to become lighter. This just made me very sad, but just like Tyra, I am not really angry at them; I'm angry at the society that made them think this way.
I'm just wondering if there are certain countries or cultures in which dark-skinned women (Lauryn Hill is a good example) can be acknowledged for the beautiful women they are. I am getting really frustrated at seeing people who are obsessed with light skin. Is there a place on this planet where dark skin is desirable and is associated with positive things?
non-pc said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
Seriously beauty is not about color it is whats within that counts. No matter how dark or light we are all beautiful. There are many types of roses and they are all pretty as long as you take care of them with lots of love they will grow think of the children what we do they may repeat
demmocra... said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
Honestly none.
f u n k. said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
it all depends……also it sort of depends on the person……and what they prefer…..don't you think…
Raven said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
none
Wayne M said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
I'm dark skinned too and i've noticed that some guys prefer light to dark. I just want to be accepted. But i dont know why its so degrading for a woman to be dark. And i dont know where any places are where dark skinned girls can be accepted and thats just the sad truth. But lucky for me, i'm trying to accept myself the way God made me, cause i am who iam.
Tajma T said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
im sorrie, but my answer doesnt answer your question but…
I feel the same way as you! many ppl in my family take up products to make their skin tone lighter, no matter how much i protest them not to. sorry, jst thought i'd share this with someone, coz actually many indian/pakistani/bangladeshi ppl want lighter skin because when they moved to the UK/USA, the people around them were white/lighter than them. There were some cases where people changed their name to 'fit in with western society'. Some indian grl changed her name from Janaki (meaning someone beautiful in Gujarati) to Jackie.
I know this is completely off the subject now, but i am also curious to know where dark(er) skin is most desirable!!! thanxxx…..
uzisuzifunky xXx
Uzisuzif... said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
Before I say anything else, I must say beauty is opinionated, not factual, so not everyone would simply find Lauryn Hill beautiful. It depends on the individual. I know countless people that dark-skinned girls attractive, but I don't think they're paying attention to their skin color, they're paying attention to their natural beauty. However, I also know a couple of people who don't find dark-skinned girls attractive because they prefer light skin. Skin color doesn't have anything to do with beauty in my opinion, but rather body structure and facial features.
Ms. Opinionative said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
Europeans can only tan so much. If they could tan to become as dark as their original ancestors, they would. It is only because they have to accept that they are victims of skin color mutations that they have perpetuated a campaign against dark skin. To answer your question, in every society you will find people who will admit that dark skin is healthier, more gentically dominant, original, and other things which in human cultures tend to link properties considered to be good to their determined value. In those same societies, you will also find people not willing to admit this, but even they know it's true.
amazinga... said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
I don't know if you could pinpoint which cultures consider dark skin beautiful but there are many individuals out there that think dark skin is beautiful. My boyfriend is white and likes dark skin even though he's with me. I'm the first light skinned black girl that he has dated; so it really depends on the individuals themselves whether they think it's beautiful. I also think dark skin looks nice too. When I dated black guys, quite a few were dark because I thought it looked sexy and many others feel the same too. If the media thinks lighter is better, that's just them. It doesn't mean that everyone else will feel the same way they do.
GirlyGir... said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
yes i watched that episode it made me sick! how can you bleach your own kid just because you don't want no dark skinned baby! i would also pick that complexion if i had to choose and you do have to have certain facial structures to pull it off that's why i think they are so beautiful! and i don't think they are excepted any where that's why they have to be strong but like always there is some one nice that excepts people for who they are and we need more of that!
Unknown said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
Dark skin is soooo beautiful. Unfortunately, there are some black people who wish they were lighter because going back into history, the lighter you were, the closer you were to looking "white", and white was beautiful, black was not.
Even though that was a very long time ago, some people still have this mentality. I am a dark-skinned woman, and when I was growing up, I wished I was lighter because it seemed like all the boys only liked light skinned girls.
Now that I am a grown woman, I see my own beauty. I also see that most of the pretty women I know range from brown skinned to dark skinned. I look at some of the light skinned girls I went to school with, and I think to myself "why did I wish I was her complextion? I'm actually ALOT prettier than her!"
I get offended sometimes because people will say to me "you are so pretty to be dark-skinned". That really p*sses me off. They think they are giving me a compliment, but to me it's an insult because there is absolutely nothing wrong with being dark-skinned.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that light skinned women aren't pretty. I'm just saying beauty comes in ALL colors, and light skin doesn't automatically make you pretty, just as dark skin doesn't automatically make you ugly!
CJ said
am February 18 2010 @ 6:41 pm
I would think that in many countries that dark skin is beautiful just as fair skin is beautiful. we are all so different and unique! i say be content with your skin color (to those who don't like their complexion)
beauty is in the eye of the beholder!
To add: I have dated many different nationalities and darker skin complexions than mine.
Infact, I'm crazy about an Arab man!